Temperature control



Jan. 16, 1934; HULSE 1,943,961

TEMPERATURE CONTROL Filed Dec. 4. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY M, %1/1/ m A ITORNEYS Jan. 16, 1934. HULSE 1,943,961

TEMPERATURE CONTROL Filed Dec. 4, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmlm m i NVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 16, 1934' PATENT orrlcr.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL George E. Hulse, New Haven, Conn., assignor to The Safety Car Heating & Lighting Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application December 4, 1929. Serial No. 411,419 25 Claims. (o1. 236-1) iThis invention relates to temperature regulat on.

One of the objects thereof is to provide apparatus for temperature control of simple and 5 practical construction and reliable action. An-

other object is to provide apparatus of the above type which shall correct conditions of excessive cold as well as of excessive heat. Another object is to provide apparatus of the above type in the action of which the outside temperature may be made a factor. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of this invention,

' Figure l is a semi-diagrammatic plan at a stage of cooling action; and

Figure 2 is a similar view, showing the apparatus in full lines at a stage of heating action.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout both views of the drawings.

Referring now to Fig. l of the drawings in detail, there is diagrammatically shown at means for enclosing the medium to be heated, which may, for example, be the walls of a room, the space 11 within which contains air or other fluid. Mounted within this chamber is a thermostatic cell 12, which may be of the expansible capsule type. One end of this cell is anchoredat 13, and the other end provided with a rod 14 slidably mounted in a guide 15 formed upon a supporting frame 16. Pivoted upon the lug 1'7 of the frame 16 is a lever 18, the lower end of which rests against the rod 14,'and the upper end of which engages a slidable rod 19 mounted in the lug 20. This rod is urged toward lever 18, as by means of a coiled spring 21 bearing against a collar 22 fixed on the rod. At the opposite end, rod 19 is provided with a crossbar 23 having thereon a contact 24* adapted to make engagement with the stationary contact 25. Normally, however,

these contacts are out of engagement, and the crossbar, as well as rod 19 and lever 18, are in the position indicated in dotted lines. The upper end of the crossbar 23 is provided with a contact 26 normally engaging a contact 27 upon an arm of the frame 16. When, however, the temperature within the chamber. 11 becomes above normal, with an attendant expansion of the thermostatic cell 12, the lever 18 is swung into the position indicated in full lines, thus thrusting the rod 19 to the right, having reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings. This action causes contact 24 to engage contact 25 and breaks the connection between contacts 26-and 27. Considering now the construction of the apparatus whose action is affected by the making and breaking of circuit at these contacts, there is shown at 28 a storage battery connected, as by the conductors 29 and 30, to a contact 31, through a starting motor 32. The contact 31 is controlled by the core 33 of a solenoid 34, but, with such solenoid de-energized, it rests by gravity or otherwise upon a stationary contact 35, which is connected by the conductor 36 with the stationary contact 25.

The starting motor 32 is operatively related to an internal combustion engine 37, which in turn is connected with a generator 38. Connected across the mains 39 and 40 of the generator 38 is a voltage coil 41, forming part of an automatic switch. The spring-retracted switch member 42 is drawn into engagement with the stationary contact 43 upon the voltage of the generator exceeding that of the battery and, upon contact being established, a circuit is completed through the series coil 44 of the automatic switch and conductors 45 and 46, by which the battery may be charged from the generator. It will be understood that upon the voltage of the generator falling below that'of the battery, the automatic switch is opened by a weakening of the resultant magnetic pull thereon. i A conductor 4'7 leads from the ignition system of the engine 3'7 diagrammatically indicated at 48,-to a movable contact 49, normally held against the stationary contact 50,-as by the spring .51. The contact 50 is connected with the generator main 39 by means of the conductor 52, and the circuit completed through the ignition system of the engine from the generator main 40 by means of the conductor 53. With the parts inthis con-- dition, it is assumed that the switch coil 54,v which controls the contact 49, is de-energized, its circuit across the battery by means of conductor 55 being interrupted due to the moving apart of the contacts 26 and 27.

Generator main 40 is connected by means of a conductor 56 witha swinging switch member 57 pivoted as at 58 and having its left end swung upwardly by means of the spring 59. This end thus brings into engagement the contact 60 upon. the lever with the stationary contact 61, completing a c rcuit through the latter and conductor 62 to an 110 electric motor 63, from which the conductor 64 leads to the generator main 39. Motor 63 drives compression refrigerating apparatus, diagrammatically indicated at 64, the cooling coil 65 from which is positioned within the chamber 11 or operatively related thereto.

Tracing now the action of this apparatus on the assumption that an excessive temperature has moved the rod 19 to the right, it will be noted that the breaking of contact between the parts 26 and 2'1 insures the de-energization of the switch magnet 54. The making of contact between 24 and 25 completes a circuit through a conductor 66 from one terminal of the battery to the contact 31, and thence through starting motor 32 and conductor 29 to the opposite terminal of the battery. The motor being thus actuated, the engine is rapidly turned over, with a consequent drive of the generator 38. The current from the latter passes through conductor 52, contacts 50 and 49, thence through the ignition system and conductor 53 to the remaining terminal of the generator and causing the starting of the engine. When the engine has come up to speed, the voltage coil 34 bridged across the generator attains sufficient strength to lift the contact 35 and thus break the circuit of the starting motor. The main output of the generator passes through-conductor 56, contacts and 61, and conductor 62, to the motor 63, returning to the generator through conductor 64. Motor 63 actuates the refrigerating apparatus, thus bringing into action the cooling coil and lowering the temperature within chamber 11. This action continues until the temperature, being brought substantially to normal, so contracts the thermostaticcell 12 as to parmit a leftward movement of the rod 19 to a point where the contacts 26 and 27 are brought into engagement. This action completes the circuit from the battery through the coil 54, drawing downwardly the movable contact 49 and interrupting the ignition circuit of the engine. The stoppage of the engine, with consequent de-energization of the generator 38, brings the appa-,

ratus back into normal position.

Turning now to the heating feature of the invention, and having particular reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, there is shown a thermostatic cell 67 which may be mounted adjacent the cell 12 and may be of a similar type. It is, however, positioned outside the chamber 11 and thus exposed to outside temperature conditions, such as, for example, the air outside the structure whose interior temperature is to be regulated. This cell has one end anchored, as at 68, and the opposite end fixed to a rod 69, slidably mounted in a lug 70 of the frame 16. The movement of this rod 69 toward the right, having reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, is limited by engagement with an abutment 71. A lever 72 is pivotally mounted, as at 73, upon the frame 16, and also has a slot and pin connectionat 74 with the rod 69. The upper end of this rod loosely embraces the rod 19.

Mounted upon the lower end of the crossbar 23 and insulated therefrom, are a pair of contacts 75 and 76, adapted upon sufficient movement to the left, to come respectively into engagement with stationary contacts 77 and 78. From con tact 77, a conductor 79 leads through the coil 80 to contact 35. The coil 80, upon energization, is adapted to swing downwardly the lever 57' and bring contact in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

60 out of engagement with contact 61 and into engagement with contact 82. From the latter contact, a conductor 83 leads to an electrical heating element 84, positioned in the space 11. From the apparatus 84, a conductor 85 leads to the generator main 39.

Considering now the action of this part of the apparatus, a slight contraction of the thermostatic cell 12 will not cause an effective movement of the rod 19, as the collar 68 fixed thereon engages the upper end of the lever 72, which is assumed to be in its normal position, as indicated If, however, the contraction of the thermostatic cell 12 is accompanied by low-temperature conditions outside the thermostaticcell 67 will also be contracted, thus swinging the upper end of the lever 72 to the left. This action permits a free movement of the rod 19, and upon suflicient contraction of cell 12 the crossbar 23 is brought into a position in which contact 75 engages contact 77 and contact 76 engages contact 78.

The engagement between contacts 76 and 78 completes a circuit from conductor 66 and conductor 87 to conductor 81, and thence through conductor 36 and contact 31 to the starting motor 32 and the remaining terminal of the battery. This action starts the engine, the ignition being derived from the current of generator 38, and the starting motor being cut off by suflicient energization of 'coil 34, as hereinbefore described. The engagement of contact 75 with contact 77, however, and a resultant completion of circuit through the coil 80 to bring the contact 60 into engagement with contact 82, results in the directingof the main generator output through conductor 56 to the conductor 83 and the electrical heating apparatus 84, as hereinbefore described. The action of this heating apparatus tends to expand the thermostatic cell 12, and by a resultant movement of the rod 19 toward the right, brings contact 26 into engagement with contact 27, thus energizing coil 54 from .the battery and interrupting the ignition circuit of the engine by separation of the contacts 49 and 50. The engine being thus stopped, the parts return to normal condition with contact 31 resting against the contact 35. v

It will thus be seen that there is provided apparatus in which the temperature conditions of ratus, which'would otherwise often occur, is done away with. The apparatus, furthermore, is automatic in its action and requires no supervision, and it is understood that the thermostats may be adjusted in the well-known manner to act at any desired points. The apparatus, furthermore, is economical in its action, as it is idle except when its operation is required, and its only requisite supplies lie in the inexpensive fuel of an internal combustion enegine.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for temperatureregulation, in combination, a room whose temperature is to be heated, an electrical heating unit for said room, a generator for supplying current for said heating unit, an internal combustion engine for driving said generator, an electricalstarting motor for said engine,-a source of current for said starting motor, an electro-magnetic switch in the circuit of said starting motor and said source of current and adapted to remain closed until energized, the winding of said switch being connected across said generator, an electro-magnetic switch in the circuit of the ignition of said engine and adapted to remainclosed until actuated, a

switch so disposed as to close the circuit between said source of current and said starting motor when in one position and to 'close the circuit between said last-mentioned electro-magnetic switch and said source of current when in another position, and thermostatic means associated with said room for controlling the position of said last-mentioned switch according to the temperature of said room.

2. In apparatus for temperature regulation,

in combination, a room whose temperature is to v be heated, an electrical heating unit for said room, a generator for supplying current for said heating unit, an internal combustion engine for driving said generator, an electrical starting motor for said engine, a source of current for said starting motor, an electro-magnetic switch in the circuit of said starting motorland said source of current and adapted to remain closed until energized, the winding of said switch being connected across said generator, an electro-magnetic switch in the circuit of the ignition of said engine and adapted to remain closed until actuated,

a switch so disposed as to close the circuit between said source of current and said starting motor when in one position and to close the circuit between said last-mentioned electro-magnetic switch and said source of current when in another position, thermostatic means associated with said room for controlling the position of said last-mentioned switch according to the temperature of said 'room, and thermostatic means positioned outside of said room for limiting the action of said first-mentioned thermostatic means.

3. In apparatus for temperature regulation, in combination, a room whose temperature is to be regulated, an electrical refrigeration unit for said room, a generator for supplying current for said refrigeration unit, an internal combustion engine for driving said generator, an electrical starting motor for said engine, a source of current for said starting motor, an electro-magnetic switch in the circuit of said motor and said source of current and adapted to remain closed until energized, the winding of said electro-magnetic switch being in the circuit of said generator, means for stopping said engine, a switch so disposed as to close the circuit between said source of current and said starting motor when in one position and to actuate said stopping means when in another position, and thermostatic means within said room for controlling the position of said last-mentioned switch according to the tem-- perature of the room.

' 4. In apparatus for temperature regulation; in combination, a room whose temperature is to be regulated, an electrical refrigeration unit for said room, a generator for supplying current for said refrigeration unit, an internal combustion engine for driving said generator, an electrical starting motor for said engine, a source of current for said starting motor, an electro-magnetic switch in the circuit of said motor and said source of current and adapted to remain closed until energized, the winding of said electro-magnetic switch being in the circuit of said generator, an electro-magnetic switch in the circuit of the ignition of said engine and. adapted to remain closed until actuated, a switch so disposed as to close the circuit between said source of current and said starting motor when in one position and to close the circuit between said last-mentioned electromagnetic switch and said source of current when in another position, and thermostatic means associated with said room for controlling the position of said last-mentioned switch according to the temperature of the room.

. 5. In apparatus for temperature regulation, in combination, a room whose temperature is to be regulated, an electrical refrigeration unit for said room, anelectrical heating unit for said room, a generator for supplying current to said heating unit and said refrigeration unit, an internal combustion engine for driving said generator, starting means for said internal combustion engine, an electro-magnetic switch in the circuits of said heating unit andsaid generator and said refrigeration unit and said generator, said switch adapted to maintain the circuit between said refrigeration unit and said generator when deenergized and to maintain the circuit between said heating unit and said generator when energized, a source of current for said starting means and the winding of said electro-magnetic switch, l

a switch for controlling the circuit between said source of current and said winding of said electro-magnetic switch and the circuit between said source of current and said starting motor, a separate switch for controlling the circuit between said source of current and said starting motor, and thermostatic means for closing said firstmentioned switch when the temperature of said room is below that preferred and for opening said first-mentioned switch but closing said secondmentioned switch when the temperature of said room is above that preferredq 6. In apparatus for temperature regulation, in combination, a room whose temperature is to be regulated, an electrical refrigeration unit for said room, an electrical heating unit for said room, a generator for supplying current to said heating unit and said refrigeration unit, an in ternal combustion engine for driving said generator, starting means for said internal combustion engine, an electro-magnetic switch in the circuits of said heating unit and said generator and said refrigeration unit and said generator, said switch adapted to maintain the circuit between said refrigeration unit and said generator when deener'gized and to maintain the circuit between said heating unit and said generator when energized, a source of current forrsaid starting means and the winding of said electro-magnetic switch, a switch for controlling the circuit between said source of current and said winding second-mentioned switch when the temperature of said room is above that preferred, and means associated with said thermostatic means for stop ping said engine when the temperature of said room is at that preferred.

7. In apparatus for temperature regulation, in combination, a room whose temperature is to be regulated, an electrical refrigeration unit for said room, an electrical heating unit for said room, a generator for supplying current to said heating unit and said refrigeration unit, an internal combustion engine for driving said generator, starting means for said internal combustion engine, an electro-magnetic switch in the circuits of said heating unit and said generator and said refrigeration unit and said generator, said switch adapted to maintain the circuit between said refrigeration unit and said generator when deenergized and to maintain the circuit between said heating unit and said generator when energized, a source of current for said starting means and the winding of said electro-magnetic switch, a switch for controlling the circuit between said source of current and said winding of said electro-magnetic switch and the circuit between said source of current and said starting motor, a separate switch for controlling the circuit between said source of current and said starting motor, thermostatic means for closing said first-mentioned switch when the temperature of said room is below that preferred and for opening said firstmentioned switch but closing said second-mentioned switch when the temperature of said room is above that preferred, and thermostatic means positioned outside said room and adapted to limit the action of said first-mentioned thermostatic means.

8. In apparatus for temperature regulation, in

combination, a room whose temperature is to be regulated, an electrical refrigeration unit for said room, an electrical heating unit for said room, a generator for supplying current to said heating unit and said refrigeration unit, an internal combustion engine for driving said generator, starting means for said internal combustion engine, an electro-magnetic switch in the circuits of said heating unit and said generator and said refrigeration unit and said generator, said switch adapted to maintain the circuit between said refrigeration unit and said generator when deenergized and to maintain the circuit between said heating unit and said generator when energized, a source of current for said starting means and the winding of said electro-magnetic switch, a switch for controlling the circuit between said source of current and said winding of said electromagnetic switch and the circuit between said source of current and said starting motor, a separate switch for controlling the circuit between said source of current and said starting motor, thermostatic means for closing saidfirst-mentioned switch when the temperature of said room is below that preferred and for opening said firstmentioned switch but closing said second-mentioned switch when the temperature of said room is above that preferred, and thermostatic means adapted to limit the action of said last-mentioned thermostatic means in accordance with the temperature outside said room when said last-mentioned thermostatic means is acting to close said first-mentioned switch.

9. In apparatus for temperatureregulation, in combination, a medium whose temperature is to be regulated, means for refrigerating said medium, means for heating said medium, and thermostatic means partially in thermal contact with said medium and partially out of thermal contact with said medium acting in response to the temperature of said medium and the temperature outside said medium for controlling the actuation of said refrigerating means and said heating means.

10. In apparatus for temperature regulation, in combination, a medium whose temperature is to be regulated, means for refrigerating said medium, means for heating said medium, a thermostatic device responsive to the temperature of said medium for controlling the actuation of said refrigerating means and said heating means, and a thermostatic device responsive to the temperature outside said medium for limiting the action of said first-mentioned thermostatic means.

11. In apparatus for temperature regulation, in combination, a medium whose temperature is to be regulated, electrically operated refrigeration means for said medium, electrically operated heating means for said medium, a generator for supplying current to said heating means and said refrigeration means, means including a thermostatic bellows positioned in thermal contact with said medium andresponsive to the temperature of said medium for controlling the circuits between said generator and said heating means and between said generator and said refrigeration means, and means including a thermostatic bellows positioned out of thermal contact with said medium for limiting the action of said last-mentioned means.

12. In apparatus for temperature regulation, in combination, a room whose temperature is to be affected, an electrical heating unit, a generator for supplying current for said heating unit, an internal combustion engine for driving said generator, a starting motor for said internal combustion engine, means for controlling the actuation of said starting motor in accordance with the temperature within said room, and thermostatic means for limiting the action of said lastmentioned means.

13. In apparatus for temperature regulation, in combination, a room whose temperature is to be affected, an electrical heating unit, a generator for supplying current for said heating unit, an internal combustion engine for driving said generator, a starting motor for said internal combustion engine, a source of current forsaid starting motor, a switch for controlling the circuit between said source of current and said starting motor in accordance with the position of an element of said switch, thermostatic means inside said room for controlling the position of said element, and thermostatic means for limiting the action of said first-mentioned thermostatic means in accordance with the temperature outside of said room.

14. In apparatus for temperature regulation, in combination, a medium whose temperature is to be regulated, a heating unit for said medium, a refrigeration unit for said medium, means m cluding an element for controlling the operation of said heating unit and said refrigeration unit according to the position of said element, thermostatic means in said medium for controlling the position of said element, and thermostatic means outside of said medium for limiting the action of said first-mentioned thermostatic means.

15. In apparatus for temperature regulation, in combination, a medium whose temperature is to be regulated, a heating unit for said medium, a refrigeration unit for said medium, means including an element for controlling the operation of said heating unit and said refrigeration unit according to the position of said element, a thermostatic bellows in said medium for moving said element in accordance with the temperature of said medium, and a thermostatic bellows for limiting the movement of said element in accordance with the temperature outside of said medium.

16. In apparatus for temperature regulation, in combination, a medium whose temperature is to be regulated, electrical heating means for said medium, electrical refrigeration means for said medium, means for supplying current to said heating and said refrigeration means, a switch including an element the position of which controls the operation of said heating means and said refrigeration means, thermostatic rneans for moving said element in accordance with the temperature of said medium, and thermostatic means outside said medium for limiting the movement of said element.

17. In apparatus for temperature regulation, in combination, a medium whose temperature is to be regulated, electrical heating means for said medium, electrical refrigeration means for said medium, a generator for supplying current to said refrigeration means and said heating means, driving means for said generator, a switch for controlling the circuits between said refrigeration means and said generator and between said heating means and said generator,

thermostatic means for controlling said switch,

in accordance with temperature changes in said medium, and thermostatic means outside said medium for limiting the actuation of said switch.

18. In apparatus for temperature regulation, in combination, a medium whose temperature is to be regulated,'electrical heating means for said medium, electrical refrigeration means for said medium, a generator for supplying current to said heating means and said refrigeration means, an

internal combustion engine for driving said gener- -ator, a starting motor for said internal combuston engine, a source of current for said starting motor, an electro-magnetic switch for controlling the circuits. between said generator and said refrigeration means and between said generator and said heating means, a switch for controlling the circuit between said source of current and said starting motor and between said source of current and the winding of said electro-magnetic switch, means for actuating said switch in accordance with the temperature changes of said medium, and means for limiting the action of said last-mentioned means in accordance with the temperature outside of said medium.

19. In apparatus for temperature regulation, in combination, a medium whose temperature is to be regulated, electrical heating means for said medium, electrical refrigeration means for said medium, a generator for supplying current to said heating means and said refrigeration means, an internal combustion engine for driving said generator, a starting motor for said internal combustion engine, a source of current for said starting motor, an electro-magnetic switchiforcontrolling the circuits between said generator and said refrigeration means and between said generator and said heating means, a'switch for controlling the circuit between said source of current and said starting motor and between said source of current and the winding of said electro-magnetic switch, means for actuating said switch in accordance with-the temperature changes of said medium, means for limiting the action of said lastmentioned means in accordance with the temperature outside of said medium, and an electromagnetic switch in the ignition circuit of said engine, said second-mentioned switch also controlling the circuit between the winding of said lastmentioned switch and said source of current.

20. In apparatus for temperature regulation, in combination, a medium whose temperature is to be regulated, electrical heating means for said medium, electrical refrigeration means for said.

medium, a generator for supplying current to said refrigeration means and said heating means, an internal combustion engine for driving said generator, means for starting said internal combustion engine, a switch for controlling the circuits between said generator and said refrigeration means and between said generator and said heating means, a switch for controlling the action of said last-mentioned switch and the action of said starting motor, and thermostatic means for controlling said last-mentioned switch in accordance with the temperature of said medium.

21. In apparatus for temperature regulation, in combination, a medium whose temperature is to be regulated, electrical heating means for said medium, electrical refrigeration means for said medium, a generator for supplying current to said refrigeration means and said heating means, an internal combustion engine for driving said generator, means for starting said internal combustion engine, a switch for controlling the circuits between said generator and said refrigeration means and between said generator and said heating means, a switch in the ignition circuit of said engine, a switch for. controlling the action of said switches and said starting motor, and thermostatic means for controlling the operation of said last-mentioned switch in accordance with temperature changes of said medium.

22. In apparatus for temperature regulation, in combination, a space whose temperature is to be regulated, electrical heating means for said space, electrical refrigeration means for said space, a generator for supplying current to said refrigeration means and said heating means, an internal combustion engine for driving said generator, means for starting said internal combustion engine, a switch for controlling the circuits between said generator and said refrigeration means and between said generator and said heating means, a switch for controlling the action of said lastmentioned switch and the action of said starting motor, thermostatic means for controlling said last-mentioned switch in accordance with the temperature of said space, and thermostatic means for limiting the action of said last-mentioned thermostatic means in accordance with the temperature outside said space.

23. In apparatus for temperature regulation, in combination, a medium whose temperature is to be regulated, heating means for said medium, refrigeration means for said medium, means for supplying energy to said heating means and said refrigeration means, means including an element the position of which controls the supply of energy to said heating means and said refrigeration means, thermostatic means for actuating said element in accordance with the temperature of said medium, and thermostatic means ing means for said space, an internal combustion engine, apparatus operably associated with said engine and adapted to supply energy to said heating means and said cooling means, means for controlling the flow of energy to said heating means and said cooling means, means responsive to the temperature of said space for controlling the action of said last-mentioned means, and means responsive to the temperature outside said space for limiting the action of said last-mentioned means.

- GEORGE E. HUI-SE. 

